Professor of Curriculum Studies

Uppsala University

Date posted: 4 February 2026

Would you like to be part of developing research and teaching in Curriculum Studies at one of Sweden’s strongest research universities? Would you be prepared to take on the responsibility of leading the subject area Curriculum Studies into the future? If so, we would welcome your application for a position as Professor of Curriculum Studies at Uppsala University.

About the Department

The Department of Education (EDU) at Uppsala University conducts research, offers courses and study programmes at first-, second- and third-cycle levels, and provides contract education in the subject area of Education, which includes pedagogy, curriculum studies and the sociology of education.

EDU offers several Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes and is heavily involved in the teacher education programmes at Uppsala University. The department has around 250 employees, including approximately 175 teaching staff and/or researchers, 45 doctoral students, and 30 administrative staff.

More information about the Department’s activities can be found at www.edu.uu.se.

Description of the subject area

Curriculum Studies is a subject area relevant to teaching and education. At its core lies the link between the content, the teaching of this content, and learning. The research questions at the core of Curriculum Studies concern the purpose of teaching, as well as the selection of content and teaching practices.

These questions arise in studies of the intersection between the content of the subject area and how it is taught, and the learning of this content that takes place, or could take place, in an activity of some kind.

Multifaceted research is conducted in this subject area at the Department of Education, along with development projects focusing on teaching in relation to different aspects of children’s and young people’s learning in pre-school, school subjects, and higher education. The research includes perspectives on subject didactics, comparative didactics and general didactics, such as views on knowledge, educational traditions, democracy education, and sustainable development.

Duties

The successful applicant will play a central role in the management, administration and further development of the subject area Curriculum Studies, in research and in courses given in pre-school teacher and other teacher education programmes (including the Special Needs Teacher Education Programme), freestanding courses, Master’s programmes and third-cycle courses and study programmes.

The professor’s duties largely consist of:

• research and leadership of research;
• teaching and supervision at first-, second- and third-cycle levels;
• general planning of activities, such as formulating research grant applications.

Assignments of an administrative nature and third-stream activities are also included. The position may include managerial roles.

Qualifications

To qualify for employment as a professor, the applicant must have demonstrated both research and teaching expertise.

Research expertise must be demonstrated through independent research projects of significance to the subject area and duties of the position, and through research of high national and international quality. The applicant must demonstrate expertise in planning, initiating, managing and developing research, as well as the ability to secure competitive research grants. The applicant’s expertise must exceed the qualifications required for appointment as a docent, in both quality and quantity.

Teaching expertise must be demonstrated as described under the Assessment criteria. The applicant must have documented experience supervising students at first- and second-cycle level and must have supervised doctoral students as principal supervisor to the award of the Degree of Doctor.

To be deemed to have the requisite teaching expertise, the applicant must have completed courses in teaching and learning in higher education lasting at least ten weeks, or have equivalent knowledge. If not completed, these courses may be undertaken within the first two years of employment and must include supervision at third-cycle level.

The applicant must demonstrate the ability to teach in Swedish and English. Applicants without documented Swedish teaching skills must acquire these within two years of employment.

The successful applicant must also have the personal qualities required to perform the duties of the position well.

Assessment criteria

The assessment criteria are based on the degree of research, teaching and other relevant expertise required for appointment as a professor. Primary emphasis will be placed on research and teaching expertise.

Research expertise

Assessment focuses primarily on research quality, as well as depth and breadth of research. The applicant’s contribution to national and international research communities will be assessed based on scholarly publishing and engagement within the field. The ability to initiate, lead and develop research and education, secure competitive grants, and interact with the wider community will be considered.

Teaching expertise

Assessment focuses primarily on teaching quality, as well as the scope and level of teaching experience. Importance is placed on the ability to develop courses and study programmes, link teaching to research, and engage with teaching and learning in higher education. Experience in pre-school teacher education and teacher education programmes is particularly valued.

Administrative skills

Administrative skills are assessed through the ability to plan, organise, prioritise, manage resources, and meet deadlines in a structured and quality-conscious manner.

Management skills

Suitability for and interest in managerial roles will be assessed. Management skills include the ability to lead staff and activities, motivate others, coordinate groups, and manage conflicts.

Other conditions

Parental leave, part-time work due to care responsibilities, union roles, military service, and similar circumstances are considered working life experience and should be included in the CV.

About the position

• Scope: Full time (100%)
• Type of employment: Permanent position
• Start date: August 2027 or by agreement
• Location: Uppsala
• Number of positions: 1

More information

For further information, please contact:

Jonas Almqvist
Head of Department
Email: prefekten@edu.uu.se
Phone: +46 (0)18-471 24 06

See also Uppsala University’s Appointment Regulations and the Faculty of Education’s supplementary guidelines.

Application

You are welcome to submit your application by 15 April 2026.
Reference number: UFV-PA 2025/734

Submit your application through Uppsala University’s recruitment system.

About Uppsala University

Uppsala University is a broad research university with a strong international position. The goal is to conduct education and research of the highest quality and relevance to make a difference in society. The University has 7,600 employees and 53,000 students.

Read more about working at Uppsala University:
https://uu.se/om-uu/jobba-hos-oss/

The position may be subject to security vetting. If conducted, the applicant must pass the vetting process to be eligible for employment.

Position details

• Placement: Disciplinary Domain of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Department of Education, Didaktik
• Working hours: 100%
• Town: Uppsala
• Reference number: UFV-PA 2025/734
• Last application date: 15 April 2026